Dominant New Paltz claims Division I crown
Undefeated Saugerties tops Poughkeepsie to improve to 7-0; Rondout Valley grinds out homecoming win over Pine Plains
New Paltz High clinched the Class B Division I football title with a 60-22 victory over Red Hook on Saturday.
Quarterback Jimmy Verney ran for three touchdowns and threw for another and the defense scored three TDs of its own Saturday as New Paltz High clinched the Section 9, Class B Division I title by rolling to a 60-22 victory over Red Hook.
The (4-0, 6-1) Huguenots earned a bye in next week’s quarterfinals. Red Hook (2-2, 5-2) will play at either Spackenkill or James I. O’Neill in the playoffs Friday night.
Verney opened the scoring with a 50-yard run, then Joey DiMarco returned an interception 20 yards for a TD.
After Christian Burda scored from 5 yards out, Verney sprinted 38 yards for a touchdown then tossed a 19-yard strike to Brian Kenney to open a 34-0 lead in the second quarter.
“They took over the game early and, by the time we got our motor running, it was too late,” Red Hook coach Bill Stutz remarked.
Nick Morrissey completed 11-of-24 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 53 yards and another score to lead the Raiders. His 8-yard TD to Matt Hosier got Red Hook on the board just before halftime.
New Paltz, however, intercepted Morrissey four times, including two for pick sixes. Kenney’s interception return made it a 40-6 game midway through the third quarter.
Verney broke loose for another long TD run, this one for 41 yards to complete his scoring hat trick. Kenney then scored again on defense, returning a fumble 20 yards for a TD to make it 53-6 before the third quarter was over.
Morrissey threw TD pass to Nick Cahill and later scored on a long run to help the Raiders close the gap to 53-22. Kenny Verney capped the scoring for New Paltz with a 25-yard run.
Hunter Cole caught three passes fror 100 yards, Cahill two for 50 and Hosier two for 42 for the Raiders. Linebacker Alex Nesel had nine tackles for Red Hook.
Saugerties 44, Poughkeepsie 24
At Saugerties, (2-3, 2-5) Poughkeepsie gave the unbeaten (5-0, 7-0) Sawyers problems in the first half, but they dominated the second half.
Jack Hindes ran for 133 yards and scored three touchdowns and Jimmy Ball carried for 118 and two TDs to lead Saugerties, which led only 14-12 at halftime.
Matt Bucci, who rushed for 96 yards and passed for 56, tossed a 20-yard TD to Hindes and Ball ran for a score to open a 29-12 advantage in the third quarter.
Trevon Reid threw for 182 yards and two TDs and also ran for one to lead the Pioneers. His TD pass to Ezakyle Smith started the fourth quarter. After Ball scored for the second time, Antawone West’s TD run for Poughkeepsie closed the gap to 37-24 with 4:35 left. Hindes’ late TD run clinched the win.
Bucci’s 10-yard TD had the Sawyers up 8-0 midway through the first quarter. Reid answered with a 20yard TD sprint, but Poughkeepsie failed to convert a 2-point play.
Hindes’ fumble recovery in the end zone had Saugerties ahead 14-6 with 1:22 left in the half. Reid ended the half with a TD pass to MoQuez Dickens, but the Pioneers again failed to convert a 2-pointer to tie.
Saugerties goes to (5-2) Cornwall Friday night with the Class A regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming sectional tournament on the line. Rondout 29, Pine Plains 12
At Kyserike, Rondout won its homecoming game with a solid outing over (16) Pine Plains.
Hunter Parks rushed for 146 yards and one touchdown and Matt Beam threw a TD pass to lead Pine Plains.
No information for Rondout was provided.